Carole Jean Harris Coffman, 74

October 6, 2010

Carole Jean Harris Coffman, 74, of Blackfoot quietly passed away at home on Oct. 2, 2010, surrounded by loved ones after a courageous 11-year battle with cancer.
Carole was born in Pocatello on June 19, 1936, to Lionel James Harris and Tirzah Mary Infanger.Â She was the oldest of four children.
She attended school in Pocatello and American Falls where she excelled in art classes and was known as the â€śschool artistâ€ť.
Carole and her husband Harvey met at a dance at the Deleta Ballroom in Pocatello and wereÂ married on June 19, 1953 in Pocatello.Â Later their marriage was solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple.Â This past June they celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary.
In their early years Carole and Harvey lived in Virginia during the Korean War where Harvey served in the Army.Â It was during this time they enjoyed seeing sites in New York City and Washington, D.C.
Carole was a dedicated and loving wife, mother and grandmother.Â To Carole and Harvey were born four children; Valerie, who passed away at birth, Doug (Rose) of Blackfoot; Sheri (Ted) Sharp of Nampa; and Connie (Kurt) Thompson of Blackfoot.Â Carole was the loving grandmother of 11 and great-grandmother of 12.
She is survived by her three siblings, Ken (Jean) Harris of Pocatello, Karen (Lynn) Hunter of Rockland and Cliff (Jean) Harris of Michaud and many nieces and nephews.
Carole was a life-long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she served in the Young Womenâ€™s program and also loved teaching Relief Society and later served in its presidency.
She loved her Heavenly Father and her Savior, her family, the out-of-doors, her flower garden, visitors to her home and her faithful pets and her art work was her passion.Â Carole was an expert seamstress where she sewed her daughtersâ€™ high school dance and pageant dresses.
Carole was a self-taught fine arts oil portrait and wildlife artist.Â She painted her first oil painting when she was 15.Â In the early 1970â€™s she entered her artwork in The National Wildlife and Western Art Show in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.Â She won first place in her division and received national recognition and an invitation to spend a summer painting in Paris, France.
Later she traveled with her husband to Charolais cattle shows to show her artwork while Harvey competed in show cattle competition. Caroleâ€™s original artwork was sold at art galleries in Sun Valley; Park City, Utah; and other regional galleries to collectors and investors.
Today her artwork can be found throughout the nation in homes, corporate and private collections and in other countries throughout the world.Â She was commissioned by Leaninâ€™ Tree Art Publishers to paint a special piece of the famous Indian, Pocahontas.
On another occasion, Wink Martindale of Hollywood, Calif., game show fame called to offer Carole a business proposition to sell her art prints on a national home shopping network show.
From the trustees of the National Museum Of Women In The Arts in Washington, D.C., the only museum â€śhonoring historyâ€™s great women artists,â€ť came a nomination and invitation for Caroleâ€™s membership.
In spite of the various honors and accolades, Carole cherished most the eight or nine Spectatorâ€™s Choice Awards she won locally from the viewing public at the Eastern Idaho State Fair.
Unfortunately the West Nile virus from a mosquito bite which damaged her eyesight, and the advance of cancer prematurely brought her art career to an end.
Her family wishes to thank all friends, family and Riverton LDS Ward members who gave of their time through visits and acts of kindness.Â We also wish to thank Creekside Hospice of Pocatello for their wonderful love, care and compassionate service over the past months.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 8, 2010, at the Blackfoot LDS South Stake Center, 900 Riverton Road, with Bishop Kelly Hurst of the Riverton Ward officiating.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010, at Hawker Funeral Home, 132 South Shilling Avenue in Blackfoot, and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Friday at the Stake Center.
Burial will be in the Groveland Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to the family at condolences@hawkerfuneralhome.com.